If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world? Showing 1,501-1,550 of 3,266

[[deleted user]]

If a prime specimen of an athlete isn't allowed to determine what (legal) substances do or don't go into their own body, well...what can I say lol? And you wonder why I've stayed safe by leaving that thread, Ian.

Anyway, back to the part of the world we live in...it's the Mrs' birthday so we're off out for dinner. I'll treat myself to a craft beer and toast the happy occasion, Nik's continued recovery and Novak's success in whatever turns out to be his next tournament :)

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Unfortunately, there will be more bloodbath, unless some army/police switch sides. They have little problem killing as many protesters as needed.
Our friend Mis will, of course, point to NATO's pl..."

I think in fairness NATO as an organization has had no role in raising fuel prices. It is a consequence of politicians lurching to a quick fix for climate change. Biden seems to be stopping production in the US, while EU countries like Germany seem to have lost reason by stopping gas flow through Nordstream by not doing the "necessary" paperwork. (We have a similar situation here - an important new highway has been built out of Wellington but it can't be used and is blocked off because the bureaucrats have not filled out the "necessary" compliance forms and have all gone on summer vacation!) Another reason for increased energy prices is Germany has decided to close down more nuclear plants because they are "not sustainable". You can close a plant quickly, but you build replacement generation capacity very slowly, especially if you have a vibrant bureaucracy dedicated to saying "no" to permit requests.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "....it's the Mrs' birthday so we're off out for dinner. I'll treat myself to a craft beer and toast the happy occasion, Nik's continued recovery and Novak's success..."

Enjoy the celebration and cheers in advance! :)

[[deleted user]]

The final word on the Novax story has to go to the UK’s Metro newspaper's headline:

Prisoner Cell Djok H

[Nik]

Reading now that at least three other players were let in in similar to Novak’s circumstances… Not a djoke

[[deleted user]]

Well played, Nik :) You just served an ace with the Djoke comment :) I've only just realised that you made the same shot yesterday too. Well played!

Reports over here that 5 or more were let in with exemptions. If Novak doesn't win his appeal, I would love to see the other competitors walk out and boycott the tournament. Won't happen but it'd be great if they did.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "Well played, Nik :) You just served an ace with the Djoke comment :) I've only just realised that you made the same shot yesterday too. Well played! ..."

Was attempting to qualify for "Australian Open" ....errr "Closed?". Glad you liked it :)

[Ian]

Before everyone gets excited about others getting in and Novak not, in our news the explanation was there was always a route, the others took it, but Novak applied for the wrong sort of visa and was turned back because he did not qualify for THAT sort of visa.

[[deleted user]]

Ian, ask your news how many times Novak has visited Australia and won the Australian open.

Novak and his team are meticulous perfectionists. The mix up is due to Aussie politicians suffering from mass formation psychosis. They are mentally ill and need treatment. The media can spin it however they like, the rational half of the world is laughing at Australia right now.

[Ian]

Beau, on Monday Novak goes to court and we will find out exactly what the problem is. Whether he has been in Australia before is irrelevant because "before" they did not have specific rules for the unvaccinated.

[[deleted user]]

Ian, I admire your optimism that a court in a nation that has been suffering from mass formation psychosis will shed light on anything.

In the meantime, it's time for some fun. Here are some recent examples of 999 calls to Welsh Ambulance Services (hilarious read):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-5...

[Ian]

Beau, when you go to court to argue the Crown has been wrong, there have to state clearly why they did what they did. What you call mass psychosis, and others might call a government response that we can argue about its value, is irrelevant; the Crown has to state why they did what they did. If Novak did not qualify for the visa he claimed he wished to use, the law in most countries would exclude him.

[[deleted user]]

Ian, you were right. Lesson learnt. It always pays to be optimistic...

Djokovic's visa cancellation overturned by Federal Circuit Court with government forced to pay costs

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-...

He's free to play in the Aussie Open.

Djokovic 15 Morrison (or is it Morgan?) Love

[[deleted user]]

Wonderful comment by a guy in the Sky News comments section,

'A very good decision by the Judge. Australia, where do we go from here? I'm very disappointed in the way this once great country is headed. Bob Hawke would have welcomed Novak with a hand shake and a cold beer. That was the Aussie way!'

All you need to do is ignore the nonsense diktats and it still can be, my good sir.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "....the West is as weak as I've ever known it ..."

Reminded me the "wankers" speech from Trainspotting :)

[Nik]

Australian Closed couldn't be complete if the champ were forced out. Congrats to Novak and let the best man win. Hope lack of training during incarceration is reversible

[[deleted user]]

Ha ha, I've got to be honest as an Englishmen - I can see why Renton said that. And as the Aussie clothes brand, English Laundry, states in their marketing - their clothes are for 'elegant, arrogant English' :)

Sweden, Florida and many places in Eastern Europe have so far come out of this saga with credit but, as things stand at the moment, we are beginning to make amends. The English are not a servile people and our current (in comparative terms) lack of restrictions and non-compliance with those in place proves it.

Btw, the Mrs has just told me that Novak has been arrested by the regime. Hope this isn't true but eagerly awaiting developments.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "Btw, the Mrs has just told me that Novak has been arrested by the regime...."

I see it here on the news too. Unbelievable. Government or mafia?

[[deleted user]]

Same thing, Nik. Police have allegedly pepper-sprayed Novak's supporters outside court:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/172719...

Mass formation psychosis in the (hopefully temporarily) unlucky country.

As the late and legendary Aussie, Sir Clive James, said, 'The problem with Australians is not that so many of them are descended from convicts, but that so many of them are descended from prison officers.'

[J.]

The Australian government's actions remind me of something...

https://youtu.be/WptlIruczS0

[[deleted user]]

Djokovic’s father calls on Queen to intervene & calls Scott Morrison a dictator

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/...

Hear, hear! Mr Djokovic Sr for Serbian President!

[Ian]

I am quite happy that Novak will presumably play, but for me there is a lot wrong with that judge's decision. What the judgment seems to say is the committee invited him, and therefore that provides an exemption from the law. That, to me, is very dangerous. It establishes a precedent where a small group of self-styled "important people" can avoid the law. The law may be an ass at times, but our civilization depends on it for the benefit of all. Once select groups can make up their own rules and judges defer to such select groups history shows this ends up badly for minorities. Two examples are Hitler's early two court cases. Guess what followed.

[Nik]

J. wrote: "The Australian government's actions remind me of something...

https://youtu.be/WptlIruczS0"

Indeed, something like that...

[[deleted user]]

I know where you're coming from, Ian, and under normal circumstances would agree with you. But not here. This law is a wicked, unjust law and Novak's stance puts it under scrutiny, as well as putting the Aussie regime under the international spotlight.

Whether you view covid as a deadly plague, a flu-like virus or (in terms of OmiCON) a cold, the vaccines do not prevent transmission so the ban on the unvaccinated must end.

Together, let's help make Australia lucky again.

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "I am quite happy that Novak will presumably play, but for me there is a lot wrong with that judge's decision. What the judgment seems to say is the committee invited him, and therefore that provide..."

A court decision should be binding for the state, otherwise it undermines the entire system. They can appeal.
Especially in immigration, as well as some other areas, the law in places I know provides leeway for discretion and allows humanitarian concerns, for example, override otherwise stringent provisions. Prosecution also has discretion. In most places I believe a system won't press charges against a hungry kid stealing bread. To a degree - it's sometimes equity vs law, which need to be reconciled :)

[Ian]

I agree a court decision should be binding on the state, but what I am against is the judge (as reported here) said the decision not exclude him was unreasonable (this is widely reported) because a committee on inviting him stated the law did not apply to him.

Yes, there is leeway for discretion, but the discretion should not be based on the person's fame or worse still, fortune.

If Beau turned up, he would be turned away. Beau can explain to me why he should be turned away while Novak is simply let through. And why should a committee of a few people be able to say the law does not apply to whatever they want. Now, it may be that there is something else in this judgment that has not been reported properly, but as it stands it appears to be basic corruption.

[Nik]

Beau would appeal too, but hope he wouldn’t go as far as taking a jab in the courtroom :)

[Papaphilly]

This is why the Hoi Palloi hate the elite....l

[[deleted user]]

Ian wrote: "Beau can explain to me why he should be turned away while Novak is simply let through...."

Ian, you’re asking me this question as if I hold your views on covid. I don’t believe that covid vaccination status should play any part in determining whether or not any person can enter a country because the illness is not serious enough to warrant it and because the vaccines don’t prevent transmission. Seriously, what more is there to say?

Although I have no intention of ever travelling to Australia again, if I did attempt to gain entry now, nobody bar my circle of family, friends and acquaintances would ever know about it. The attempt would serve no purpose.

Novak, on the other hand, has a global profile, millions of fans and an expensive legal team. He is in a position to highlight the regime’s ludicrous laws to the whole world. He can do something, where as I can’t. I salute him for his courage in taking on the covid establishment because they are now sure to pull out every trick in the book to try and discredit him. It won’t work. He’s ten times the man any of those warped politicians and journalists will ever be.

Papaphilly, regarding one rule for the elite and one for the plebs, here’s an idea for the plebs…ignore the rules too because the minute people do this on mass, the ‘pandemic’ ends.

[Ian]

Beau, you have totally ignored my point.

All countries have visa requirements. The purpose of a visa is to state whether a person qualifies for entry to the country. Either the person meets the requirements of the visa or they do not. If they do, they are immediately granted entry at the border. If they do not, they are turned away. Many countries, the US being one I believe, also state that if you deliberately lie on your application, you go to jail, then you are deported at the end of your sentence.

What seems to have happened here is Novak did NOT meet the requirements of the visa, and so was declined admission at the border. As far as i can tell, NO case was made that he did qualify, but rather he was given an exemption.

This raises the point was whoever granted said exemption legally qualified to do so? The answer appears to be no.

The next question is, at the border, did Novak fully truthfully explain where he had been previously, which is a requirement for requesting exemption at the border. The accusation is he did not.

My argument is that the judge who said it was "reasonable" to let him in did not follow the law and made his own exemption on no legal grounds. That is not what a judge is supposed to do. It would be like judges in the US saying that storming the capitol was a reasonable thing to do because those doing it believed the election was a fraud so they were exercising their democratic rights, which is perfectly reasonable. It would be p[erfectly reasonable to get their hands on Assange and execute him for treachery because the judge thinks he is a bad person.

My point is a judge MUST enforce the law. He must not simply make decisions that a certain class wants. The law has to be blind to whoever is accused, otherwise civilization starts to fall to pieces because the very powerful can do what they like.

[J.J.]

Beau wrote: "Don't know how many of you have been following what's going on in Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan unrest: Dozens killed in crackdown

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia...

I saw footage of this o..."

While I have to admit I haven't put too much time in following this story, it is funny that I don't see as much about it as I would anything else. Usually when you Google a person or a place that's in the news, a couple of news stories pop up on the main page. When I've searched for Kazakhstan, I've had to go to the news tab for any news about the country, because there is no news showing up on the main page for me.

I don't know if this story is being buried because it mirrors the frustrations of ordinary people, and the news outlets and other media organizations are afraid we might say enough and overturn the status quo they've been trying to protect here.

[Ian]

More likely it is buried because who cares what happens in Alma Aty? Kazakhstan does not rate much unless you are Russian or Chinese, or are irritated by Russians or Chinese.

[[deleted user]]

Here you go, JJ:

Kazakhstan Unrest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlww...

Warning: red hot political violence, which some viewers may find upsetting.

[[deleted user]]

No, Ian, I addressed your point directly in the 2nd sentence of my post.

I’m not interested in what the media or Australian Government are now claiming/ spinning that Novak did or didn’t do. I don’t believe anything they say.

If – if - the judge didn’t make his ruling on Australian legal grounds then he certainly made it by the long-established legal norms followed by respected members of the international community. You often say (correctly) that with rights come responsibilities. This doesn’t just apply to individuals; it applies to states and their laws too. If Australia is discriminating on vaccination status, it is guilty of medical apartheid and no longer deserves to be treated as a respected member of the international community but as a rogue state. If the Australian visa requirements were based on colour of skin, gender, disability or religious faith, would you still support them then?

I am certainly on your side with regards to Julian Assange, and believe that my support for him is consistent with my support for Novak.

[Ian]

As it happens, Beau, the court case, as reported here, and we have to be careful about misreporting, was seemingly not even about the law. Novak's lawyers immediately claimed they had not had time to prepare a defence. Now the normal response here would be for the court to adjourn and give them time, but they responded by pointing out that would mean Novak could not do what he came to do. The judge therefore ruled without hearing the case. Here I agree That is quite simply wrong. He did not make it on legal grounds and if it is "long-established legal norms followed by respected members of the international community" to rule without bothering about the evidence or the law, then civilization is in deep brown stuff.

Novask has publicly admitted he lied. One of the points was he had to state he had not travelled in the rpevious 14 days. he said he had not, but there is clear public evidence he travelled to and from Spain. He states something like he forgot and it was an error. That is an imprisonable offence if carried out by anyone else.

On top of that there was a Czech female tennis player in the same postion except she had not travelled in the previous 14 days, but she did not have the status to pull off this rort so she went home, and that is what I object to. There are tricks to play that let the famous and rich avoid the legal requirements through various legal tricks and impro[er practice, but the lesser lights get punished. If you want a law for the rich and another for everyone else, you will love where all this is going.

[Nik]

Don't know, in order to understand the reasoning it'd be proper to read the decision itself rather than reports about it. Can't find it quickly, but if to reconstruct from here: https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/...
"Judge Anthony Kelly read out a minute agreed to by both Djokovic and the government, which ordered the government to pay Djokovic’s costs and release him from detention within 30 minutes." Looks like both sides agreed: government and Djoke.
"The government acknowledged it had not given Djokovic enough time to make his case while he was being held after arriving in the country.

The decision to revoke his visa under Section 116 of the Migration Act was “unreasonable”, because Djokovic had been told, at 5:20am on the morning of January 6, that he could have until 8:30am to respond to officials.

The call to cancel the visa happened before that deadline, at 7.42am, robbing Djokovic of time he could have used to “consult others” and make further submissions on his own behalf."
A technicality maybe, but shows some bad faith on the part of the border control. Seems like they acted wrongfully and the process of revoking his visa seems flawed...
I hope his richness or poverty has nothing to do with it, although his status of a reigning champ might've sit on some minds...

[[deleted user]]

Ian, I saw that Novak made an apology for not following quarantine rules, or what not, after his positive test. Do you know the first thing I thought of after hearing it? Crossing the road with a small child, Novak being the adult and the Australian state the nipper.

We've all been there or seen it happen. The little red man is illuminated on the crossing but there's not a car in sight, so the man takes the child's hand and crosses the road.

Upon reaching the other side, the child says, 'You were naughty, Daddy. You didn't wait until the man was on green.'

Realising that the child has an undeveloped mind and limited understanding of the world, the man replies, 'Yes, son. Silly Daddy. Don't worry, he won't do it again. Now make sure you only ever cross the road when you can see the little green man.'

The man isn't really sorry but he knows the child requires a simple response to aid their early development.

As I'm sure Nik has pointed out before, we also need to account for the difference in culture. Novak was brought up in a country ravaged by civil war. Like most East Europeans, he's experienced the hard times as well as the good ones. Do you seriously think that these men and women are such wussies that they go round testing themselves for an illness every 5 minutes when they aren't even ill, or that they spend their day online shopping for the latest design of gimp mask?

These guys have been in proper life and death situations. It has taught them something important...perspective and the ability to carry out a sensible risk assessment. They don't need to spend their day virtue signalling and preaching to others; they're too busy working for a living and trying to enjoy life.

On the rich/ poor, 1 rule for me another for thee question - where have you been for the last 2 years? What exactly do you think this has been all about? Have you missed the greatest transfer of wealth, from poor to rich, in history? It's what you've been busy supporting, isn't it?

[Ian]

Nik wrote: "Don't know, in order to understand the reasoning it'd be proper to read the decision itself rather than reports about it. Can't find it quickly, but if to reconstruct from here: https://www.news.co..."

Definitely it was unreasonable to expect Novak to mount a defence after being informed at 5:20 that he had to respond by 8.30. The question then is, did he pass through customs at 0520 hrs? If so the court should have been adjourned to give him time, but he genuinely had not followed the law. Sorry, but my view is still the law has to be followed. It seems the officials have not shone here either. It is a clear mess, and in my view some should be fired, but that does not give Novak the right to lie on his immigration form. The fact someone else filled it out for him is even worse - he should check and verify the facts before signing and handing it over.

[Ian]

Beau wrote: "Ian, I saw that Novak made an apology for not following quarantine rules, or what not, after his positive test. Do you know the first thing I thought of after hearing it? Crossing the road with a s..."

The law may well be silly, but that does not mean the rich and famous Novak should be given a pass and the poor Czech woman is bundled back home.

As for poor Novak having had a hard time, that is irrelevant. He stated he had not travelled in the previous 14 days when he had clearly travelled to and from Spain. That is a lie on a form. In the US this is bad news. To say he "made an error" is a simple lie as well. Most people can recall being on an aircraft in the last two weeks.

As for being wussies and resting themselves every five minutes when they know they were not ill, Novak had a test, knew the results were positive, then ignored Serbian law and went to some conference, which he was forbidden to do. The President of Serbia has stated Novak broke Serbian law. We await developments there. Being rich and famous the president will probably cancel legal proceedings, but that would not happen to the ordinary Serb who did that.

As for the last para, it is clear you are not reading what I write. If you think i am am supporting this wealth transfer you are very wrong but what one supports or does not support does not alter the requirement that the law be followed.

[Papaphilly]

Beau wrote: "I am certainly on your side with regards to Julian Assange, and believe that my support for him is consistent with my support for Novak...."

So as long as someone break laws you disagree with, then it is OK? The question that needs to be answered is this one: Is he treated differently than any other due to his status as a celebrity? Would an average Joe be let in on the same information?

If he lied, I do not applaud him. He is a high profile person that has just given multitudes permission to also behave badly. Regardless of what you think about any country, it is not up to you to decide their policies. That is for their country.

[Scout]

Did Assange's actions result in any positive outcomes?

[Ian]

Novak apparently did not properly enter Spain either, but that is OK - he can get away with it of he declare himself to be a Spanish resident. Do you have to spend time somewhere to be called a resident? (He does own a property in Marabella, apparently.)

[Nik]

Ian wrote: "Definitely it was unreasonable to expect Novak to mount a defence after being informed at 5:20 that he had to respond by 8.30. The question then is, did he pass through customs at 0520 hrs? If so the court should have been adjourned to give him time, but he genuinely had not followed the law...."

As far as I understand - it's just not what happened, but I didn't look too deep into it and can, of course, be wrong. Djoke came having a visa (or visa is not required btw Aus and Serbia), but the border decided they want to revoke it and gave him 3 hours to state his objections. However, before his time lapsed - they revoked the visa after 2 hours only.
He didn't need time in court, since he was the one who challenged the administrative action! He was the plaintiff. The court just found that the border control acted unreasonably and overruled their decision with state's (defendant's) consent...

[[deleted user]]

Ian and Papaphilly, you don’t fool me for a minute. Just like the Aussie journalists who launched an expletive-laden rant against Novak and just like all of the other moralisers, you don’t care one jot about the rich and famous getting away with things or minute paperwork details. What you can’t stomach is that this man is not showing irrational fear over covid and that he won’t take your ineffective vaccine. The attacks on Novak have got the spite of buyers’ remorse written all over them.

[Ian]

Beau, my comments about Novak have nothing to do with Covid. It was about the law. If you cannot see that, you are not reading and comprehending what I wrote. I couldn't care less whether he takes the vaccine. I do care if people like him behave as if the law does not apply to him, and authorities appear to let him get away with it.

[J.]

The limits of a mother's love?

Prince Andrew is stripped of his royal patronages and military titles
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/13/107277...

[Ian]

J. wrote: "The limits of a mother's love?

Prince Andrew is stripped of his royal patronages and military titles
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/13/107277..."

I am surprised it took this long

[Papaphilly]

Ian wrote: "J. wrote: "The limits of a mother's love?

Prince Andrew is stripped of his royal patronages and military titles
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/13/107277..."

I a..."

She must be very upset. By removing royal, he just lost protections.

[Ian]

Not sure royal is removed. There is more to that than "royal patronages and military titles." It is doubtful that Andrew has any even tolerable options here now.

[Papaphilly]

Ian wrote: "Not sure royal is removed. There is more to that than "royal patronages and military titles." It is doubtful that Andrew has any even tolerable options here now."

He faces everything as a private citizen as the decree went.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/924...